Symphony Nova Scotia’s special sci-fi concert that Hallowe’en evening was hosted by John Rhys-Davies, a Welsh actor who played Gimli the dwarf in the film trilogy “The Lord of the Rings”, and our author George Burden had the chance to meet him!

“There’s no way!” she says, as she explains that during the show he might throw out some souvenir guitar picks or after the show, autograph some official photos; but as to actually placing his signature on someone’s guitar?…

Why is it that artistic brilliance is so often accompanied by such unfathomable emotional and psychological dysfunction and suffering that the star implodes and we are left with darkness long before we have been touched by all its facets?

I often hear people say about Kate Middleton, future Queen, “Well, good luck to her, but I wouldn’t want to put up with all that protocol.” There is no accounting for the stupidity of the plebs. Think about it.

In her clicky high heels, Miss Rosie Bittstaps across the floor at the Superior restaurant in Victoria, her round little bum wiggling in a 1940-esque turquoise dress with a slit up to here. She tosses her long, blonde mane, positively oozing sex appeal. My gosh, and it isn’t even martini hour yet. But that’s the real beauty of hanging out with this rising burlesque starlet — wherever she goes, whatever time it is, it’s happy hour…and I’m not talking about booze.

On a recent holiday in Puglia, Italy, Julia McLean visits the remarkable site of Matera, a UNESCO world Heritage site, which is preserved much as it might have appeared in Pre-Christian and Medieval times. It was here that Mel Gibson filmed The Passion of Christ. And Julia has a few words of advice for Mel.